Purchasing Agent

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Atlanta VA Medical Center, Prosthetics & Sensory Aids Service, seeks a Purchasing Agent to support direct medical supply purchasing and inventory management.

You will process acquisition plans, verify vendor eligibility, and ensure proper documentation for prosthetic and sensory aid devices delivered to Veterans, while adhering to FAR/VAAR guidelines.

Qualifications

• Specialized experience in purchasing and procurement within federal service, related to acquiring equipment and supplies.
• Education: four years above high school in any field from an accredited school or university may substitute experience.
• Combination of experience and education acceptable for the GS-6 level as described in the qualification standards.

Responsibilities

• Perform technical purchasing support following FAR/VAAR/VHA policies to acquire prosthetic equipment and related supplies.
• Submit Acquisition Plans and Procurement Packages, upload quotes, invoices, and documents to electronic contract systems.
• Verify DUNS/Bradstreet and ensure vendors are in SAM and in good standing tobid with the government.
• Maintain accountability of prosthetics expenditures and document services with veteran-specific care.

Job description

Summary

This developmental position is in the Prosthetics & Sensory Aids Service in the Prosthetic Service Line at the Atlanta VA Medical Center in Atlanta - GA. Purpose of this position is to perform direct medical supply purchasing and inventory management support to the administrative and clinical services of the VA to initiate the obligation for all related requirements necessary to provide prosthetic and sensory aids services - to include durable medical equipment and supplies directly to Veterans.

Qualifications

IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THIS POSITION YOU MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING: SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE:To qualify for this position at the GS-5 level: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-04) in the Federal Service - that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge - skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as Purchasing Agent. Qualifying specialized experience includes performing clerical or assistant duties in support of purchasing and procurement; procuring supplies and services to meet the purchase - rental - or lease needs of an organization. (THIS EXPERIENCE MUST BE SUPPORTED BY YOUR RESUME TO BE CREDITABLE.) OR SUBSTITUTION OF EDUCATION FOR EXPERIENCE (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Possess the successfully completed four (4) years above the high school level in any field for which high school graduation or the equivalent is the normal prerequisite. This education must have been obtained in an accredited business - secretarial or technical school - junior college - college - or university. OR COMBINATION OF EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED): Possess the equivalent combinations of successfully completed post-high school education beyond two (2) years and specialized experience as described above that demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of this Purchasing Agent position. OR SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: To qualify for this position at the GS-6 level: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-05) in the Federal Service - that is directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge - skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as Purchasing Agent. Qualifying specialized experience includes performing clerical or assistant duties in support of purchasing and procurement; procuring supplies and services to meet the purchase - rental - or lease needs of an organization; working with staff to determine procurement needs and priorities; resolving a variety of shipment - payment - or other discrepancies; purchasing various equipment - supplies - and services using a purchase card. (THIS EXPERIENCE MUST BE SUPPORTED BY YOUR RESUME TO BE CREDITABLE.) PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Work is primarily sedentary when conducting purchasing functions for PSAS. However - while conducting inventory management functions - the incumbent may work comfortably in a warehouse environment - sitting - standing - walking - bending - lifting - carrying - retrieving and managing inventory. Prolonged periods of working at a computer terminal is required. Ability to retrieve equipment from a storage room is required. Climbing associated with stocking of equipment and other items in storage areas is necessary. Incumbent may carry/lift items weighing up to twenty-five (25) pounds. Normal safety precautions are adequate. The work involves moderate discomfort when visiting sites away from the office. At times - the employee may be required to wear protective clothing when visiting the Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Fabrication Laboratory. Often - walking between the main medical center and other parts of Prosthetics to conduct professional duties. For more information on these qualification standards - please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Duties

• ***THIS IS NOT A VIRTUAL POSITION - YOU MUST LIVE WITHIN OR BE WILLING TO RELOCATE WITHIN A COMMUTABLE DISTANCE OF THE DUTY LOCATION*** This position involves a multi-grade career ladder
• The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-6. At the GS-5 grade level - the employee performs assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence
• You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-6. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance - availability of higher level work - and availability of funds
• Duties include but not limited to: Perform technical level purchasing support adhering to the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) - Veteran Affairs Acquisition Regulations (VAAR) -Veteran Health Administration (VHA) - and Prosthetics directives and handbooks - Veterans Integrated Service Networks (VISN) policy and station memorandums to acquire Veteran specific medical equipment - supplies and services based on a medical provider's clinical assessment and evaluation of the Veteran's medical condition
• Submits Acquisition Plans and Procurement Packages for stock and veteran specific needs to the Network Contracting Office and uploads quotes - bids - invoices - consults - and other important documents to Electronic Contract Management System (eCMS)
• Verifies Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) and Bradstreet information and ensures each vendor is in System for Award Management (SAM) and in good standing with the government to do business with
• Verifies accountability of all prosthetics expenditures in both the purchase menu and the prosthetics program and associate all obligations to the individual veteran
• Ensure the services provides are documented not only as the type of service - but the duration
• Complex purchasing: requires irregular research - analysis - collaboration and many other steps to ensure both best value and the most appropriate devices are purchased for the Veterans
• Routine purchasing: includes routine purchase orders on established contracts or through established vendor resources using regular significant research - analysis or collaboration
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Work Schedule: Monday - Friday - 8:00AM - 4:30PM Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): - Not approved